Ancient-history-and-art-culture / Ancient History and Art & Culture / 2020

Prelims PYQ - 2020

Q1.   With reference to the scholars / litterateurs of ancient India, consider the following statements:1. Panini is associated with Pushyamitra 2. Amarasimha is associated with Harshavardhana 3. Kalidasa is associated with Chandra Gupta-II Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)   1 and 2 only
(b)   2 and 3 only
(c)   3 only
(d)   1, 2 and 3

Q2.   With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs: 1. Aurang : In-charge of treasury of the State 2. Banian : Indian agent of the East India Company 3. Mirasidar : Designated revenue payer to the State Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
(a)   1 and 2 only
(b)   2 and 3 only
(c)   3 only
(d)   1, 2 and 3

Q3.   With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:1. Sthaviravadins belong to Mahayana Buddhism. 2. Lokottaravadin sect was an offshoot of Mahasanghika sect of Buddhism. 3. The deification of Buddha by Mahasanghikas fostered Mahayana Buddhism. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)   1 and 2 only
(b)   2 and 3 only
(c)   3 only
(d)   1, 2 and 3

Q4.   Consider the following events in the history of India:1. Rise of Pratiharas under King Bhoja 2. Establishment of Pallava power under Mahendravarman-I 3. Establishment of Chola power by Parantaka-I 4. Pala dynasty founded by Gopala What is the correct chronological order of the above events, starting from the earliest time?
(a)   2 – 1 – 4 – 3
(b)   3 – 1 – 4 – 2
(c)   2 – 4 – 1 – 3
(d)   3 – 4 – 1 – 2

Q5.   Which of the following phrases defines the nature of the ‘Hundi’ generally referred to in the sources of the post-Harsha period?
(a)   An advisory issued by the king to his subordinates
(b)   A diary to be maintained for daily accounts
(c)   A bill of exchange
(d)   An order from the feudal lord to his subordinates

Q6.   With reference to the history of India, the terms ‘kulyavapa’ and ‘dronavapa’ denote:
(a)   measurement of land
(b)   coins of different monetary value
(c)   classification of urban land
(d)   religious rituals

Q7.   Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription? “Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely.”
(a)   Ashoka
(b)   Samudragupta
(c)   Harshavardhana
(d)   Krishanadeva Raya

Q8.   With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs:Famous Place           Present State1. Bhilsa                  Madhya Pradesh 2. Dwarasamudra     Maharashtra 3. Girinagar             Gujarat 4. Sthanesvara         Uttar PradeshWhich of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a)   1 and 3 only
(b)   1 and 4 only
(c)   2 and 3 only
(d)   2 and 4 only

Q9.   With reference to the period of Gupta dynasty in ancient India, the towns Ghantasala, Kadura and Chaul were known as:
(a)   ports handling foreign trade
(b)   capitals of powerful kingdoms
(c)   places of exquisite stone art and architecture
(d)   important of Buddhist pilgrimage centres

Q10.   With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following pairs: 1 .Parivrajaka : Renunciant and Wanderer 2. Shramana : Priest with a high status 3. Upasaka : Lay follower of Buddhism Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a)   1 and 2 only
(b)   1 and 3 only
(c)   2 and 3 only
(d)   1, 2 and 3

Q11.   With reference to the cultural history of India, which one of the following is the correct description of the term 'paramitas'?
(a)   The earliest Dharmashastra texts written in aphoristic (sutra) style
(b)   Philosophical schools that did not accept the authority of Vedas
(c)   Perfections whose attainment led to the Bodhisattva path
(d)   Powerful merchant guilds of early medieval South India